Attachment_E_-_Tire_Inspection_and_Replacement_Criteria.docx

TIRE INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT CRITERIA.

INSPECTION OF TIRE BEADS.

If any of these deficiencies are noted the tire must be removed from service immediately.

(1) Tears or gouges that are more than 2/32 inch deep or expose bead wire.

(2) Kinked or distorted beads.

(3) Burned beads, which are indicated by rough, brittle, and/or discolored hard surface in the bead area.

(4) Petroleum damage which is indicated by blisters, swelling, spongy, dry and/or brittle rubber in the bead area.

(5) Bead damage from curbing which is indicated by localized rippling or waviness in the bead area with no exposed cord. Scuffs may also be apparent in the lower sidewall.

(6) Flow cracks from improper manufacturing processes which is indicated by a solid extended circumferential crack above the bead with no wire exposed.

INSPECTION OF TIRE SIDEWALLS.

Inspect tire sidewalls for the following conditions. If any of these deficiencies are noted the tire must be removed from service immediately.

(1) Damaged tire cord or wider than normal wire spacing which is indicated by a radial (up & down), pencil shaped bulges in the sidewall.

(2) Scrapes, gouges or cuts in the sidewall which expose cords or are 2/32nd inch deep or more.

(3) Snow chain damage, which is indicated by numerous pock marks around the tire in the upper sidewall and crown areas.

(4) Sidewall separation, which is indicated by irregular shaped bulge, or in severe conditions progress into breaks or cracks, in the middle or upper sidewall areas.

(5) Weather checking cracks, which extend to the cord body or 2/32nd inch deep or which have 2 or more cracks that, connect and have joined into one straight or arced line. Most weather checking is only cosmetic damage and the actual amount of weather checking cracks in a sidewall is not as important as the depth and pattern of the cracks.

(6) Indications of circumferential cord fatigue and eventual sidewall rupture (also known as Zipper rupture). Indicators are circumferential cracks or very subtle bumps in a even circumferential arced line which can be felt when gently rubbing the mid or upper sidewall.

(7) Nails or other foreign objects lodged into the tire sidewall which extend 2/32nd inch or deeper or to the cord body.

INSPECTION OF TIRE TREAD AND SHOULDERS.

Inspect tire tread crown areas and shoulders for the following conditions. If any of these deficiencies are noted the tire must be removed from service immediately.

(1) Nails or other foreign objects lodged into the tread groove areas which extend 2/32nd inch or deeper or to the cord body.

(2) Cuts in tread or shoulder area that are deeper than the tread base or tread groove, usually 360 degrees around the tire and caused from interference from other vehicle components.

(3) Belt lift and separation, which is indicated by a bulge or split through the upper sidewall and tread shoulder area.

(4) Tread lift and separation which is indicated by a bulge on the tread shoulder or tread face area and may result in splits through the bottom of the tread groove or complete loss of a section of tread

(5) Brake skid damage that extends 2/32nd inch or more below the tread.

(6) Tread chunking which is indicated by sections of the tread torn from the tire.

(7) Excessive tread wear.